By now most you have probably been exposed to statistics about how the percentage of women dwindles with each step on the ladder up to the C-suite. While there are many theories about why this occurs and probably many contributing factors, the gender penalty is front and center in terms of keeping women from rising with more consistency. Women are penalized for violating prescribed gender roles – for being more ambitious and career-oriented than “traditional female norms” find acceptable. And on the flip side, they are often critiqued for bringing “traditionally female” behaviors and beliefs to the workplace. With a pipeline full of women who do have aspirations to lead, and who are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top, how do we as a culture overcome our biases to help them flourish? And how do we learn to embrace the unique skills and outlooks that female leaders have to share with their colleagues – rather than treat them as on-the-job hazards? In this interactive presentation and panel session, three executive women share their perspectives, observations, personal stories, and unrelentingly optimistic attitude about the future for female leaders.

2. 1
PRESENTATION
2
PANEL
3
QUESTIONS

3. FEMINISM does not
mean ANTI-MEN
It does mean
PRO-HUMAN

5. “Across all study sites, boys are
encouraged to be tough, strong, and
brave and to demonstrate heterosexual
prowess. Girls are taught to be nice,
polite, and submissive and to accentuate
their physical beauty while maintaining
their modesty."
Global Early Adolescent Study: A partnership between the Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the World Health
Organization, intervention implementation partners, and research
institutions around the world

6. The Women’s Leadership Gap and Crunchbase
10% of governors and 20
percent of the mayors
of the 100 largest
American cities
17 percent of all the directors,
executive producers, producers,
writers, cinematographers, and
editors who worked on the 250
top-grossing domestic films
of 2016
31% of full professors
and 27% of college
presidents
37% of all physicians and
surgeons but only 16% of
permanent medical
school deans
8% of partners in venture
capital firms
45% of associates
but only 22% of partners and
18% of equity partners
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS

7. “When women are collaborative and communal, they
are not perceived as competent — but when they
emphasize their competence, they’re seen as cold
and unlikable, in a classic “double bind.”
– Harvard Business Review

10. “You can come across as abrasive sometimes.
I know you don’t mean to, but you need to pay
attention to your tone.”
“Your peers sometimes feel that you don’t leave
them enough room. Sometimes
you need to step back to let others shine.”
“The presentation ultimately went well. But
along the way, we discovered many areas for
improvement. You would have had an easier
time if you had been less judgmental about R—
‘s contributions from the beginning.”
“Hone your strategies for guiding your team
and developing their skills. It is important to
set proper guidance around priorities and to
help as needed in designs and product
decisions.”
“There were a few cases where it would have
been extremely helpful if you had gone
deeper into the details to help move an area
forward.”
“Take time to slow down. You would achieve
even more.”
FEEDBACK FOR MEN FEEDBACK FOR WOMEN

11. Watch your tone!
Step back!
Stop being so
judgmental!
Speak with
authority!
Step forward!
Make decisions!

12. ABRASIVE
STRIDENT
AGGRESSIVE
EMOTIONAL
IRRATIONAL
BOSSY

13. “Girls, after all, are supposed to be likable, pliant, polite,
quiet and gentle. Be too smart, too successful, too
accomplished, and risk facing a sharp reminder that you’ve
done so at the cost of your feminine appeal.”
--Laura Bates, The Guardian

14. ABRASIVE ASSERTIVE
STRIDENT
AGGRESSIVE
EMOTIONAL
BOSSY
DIRECT
CONFIDENT
PASSIONATE
EMPATHETIC
IRRATIONAL

15. Women are 50.8% of the U.S. population.
Women earn:
almost 60% of undergraduate degrees and 60% of all
master’s degrees
47% of all law degrees and 48% of all medical degrees
38% of MBAs and 48% of specialized master’s degrees
SHE’S NOT BOSSY, SHE’S A BOSS!

16. Thank
You!